Chapter 342

2007 -- H 5418

Enacted 07/06/07

A N A C T

RELATING TO MILITARY AFFAIRS AND DEFENSE -- EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

Introduced By: Representatives Naughton, Handy, Jacquard, Ajello, and Serpa

Date Introduced: February 13, 2007

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Sections 30-15-6 of the General Laws in Chapter 30-15 entitled

"Emergency Management" is hereby amended to read as follows:

30-15-6. Advisory council. -- (a) There is hereby created the Rhode Island emergency

management advisory council (hereinafter in this chapter called the "council"). The council will

consist of thirty-two (32) thirty-three (33) members as follows:

      (1) Seventeen (17) Eighteen (18) ex officio members as follows:

      (i) The lieutenant governor;

      (ii) The adjutant general;

      (iii) The director of administration/statewide planning;

      (iv) The director of health;

      (v) The director of transportation;

      (vi) The director of human services;

      (vii) The superintendent of state police;

      (viii) The public utilities administrator;

      (ix) The director of the department of environmental management;

      (x) The director of mental health, retardation, and hospitals;

      (xi) The director of elderly affairs;

      (xii) The chairperson of the state water resources board;

      (xiii) The chairperson of the governor's commission on disabilities;

      (xiv) The chairperson of the Rhode Island public transit authority;

      (xv) The executive director of the coastal resources management council or his or her

designee;

      (xvi) The executive director of the American Red Cross, Rhode Island chapter;

      (xvii) The executive director of the Rhode Island emergency management agency; and

(xviii) The executive director of the commission on the deaf and hard of hearing; and

      (2) Fifteen (15) members appointed by and serving at the pleasure of the governor, as

follows:

      (i) Two (2) members of the senate, recommended by the president of the senate, not

more than one of whom shall be from the same political party;

      (ii) Two (2) members of the house of representatives, recommended by the speaker of

the house, not more than one of whom shall be from the same political party;

      (iii) One representative of the electric industry;

      (iv) One representative of the gas industry;

      (v) One representative of the telephone industry;

      (vi) The executive director of the Rhode Island petroleum association or other similarly

situated person;

      (vii) Two (2) representatives of the general public, one who shall have expertise in

disaster preparedness;

      (viii) One representative of the Rhode Island league of cities and towns;

      (ix) One representative of E-911, the uniform emergency telephone authority;

      (x) One representative of the media;

      (xi) One representative of the water supply industry;

      (xii) One representative of the health care industry; and

      (xiii) One representative of the Rhode Island firefighters association.

      (b) It shall be the duty of the council to advise the governor and the adjutant general on

all matters pertaining to disaster preparedness. The lieutenant governor shall serve as chairperson

of the council and the adjutant general shall serve as vice-chairperson. In providing advice to the

governor and the adjutant general, the council shall, among other matters reasonably related to

their authority, do the following:

      (1) Establish a regular meeting schedule and form subcommittees as may be appropriate;

      (2) Review emergency management plans and other matters as may be acted upon or

otherwise provided for in this chapter;

      (3) Establish priorities and goals on emergency management matters on an annual basis;

      (4) Study emergency management plans in conjunction with the adjutant general, and

otherwise conduct such other studies as may be deemed appropriate;

      (5) Review the coordination of the state's emergency management programs with

appropriate authorized agencies and conduct studies on the programs as may be necessary;

      (6) Review the plans and operations of the various cities and towns in disaster

preparedness in conjunction with the director and his or her office as required or necessary; and

      (7) —Deleted by P.L. 2000, ch. 170, section 2_;

      (8) Provide an annual report on its activities in conjunction with the adjutant general.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC01516

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